A group of Australian filmmakers, some of whom were involved on the very successful digital feature Wolf Creek , are making their new project Beautiful as one of the first features to be shot with the new Sony F23 CineAlta HD camera.

Dean O'Flaherty is directing and Adelaide-based Kojo Pictures' Kent Smith is producing and shooting the film.

The film-makers believe they are the first English-language production made with the new camera, which they bought for $451,400 (A$500,000). Smith attended a camera workshop in Bangkok in August and conducted tests back in Australia just before going into production last month.

The film is a gritty drama with fantasy elements and is about the secrets that lie under the surface of suburbia. The cast includes Deborra Lee Furness, Peta Wilson and newcomer Tahyna Tozzi.

'We were going to use the camera we used on Wolf Creek until I realised how much more advanced this new system is,' said Smith. He did additional cinematography on Wolf Creek and was heavily involved in its post-production. Wolf Creek 's executive producer Matt Hearn is also executive producer on Beautiful.

While the Kojo Group has been involved in post-production for many years, Kojo Pictures only emerged as a production outfit with Un Certain Regard title 2:37 . The company also branches into Australian film distribution this month with the release of Palme d'Or winner 4 Months, 3 Weeks, 2 Days.

O'Flaherty has worked full-time at Kojo Pictures since early this year. He previously worked at sales agent Arclight Films and is a founder of Australian distributor Accent Film Entertainment.

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